I placed the order on 3/25 for the replacement to my current 2011 335i M Sport in LeMans Blue over Saddle Brown leather (an absolutely flawless car that has been completely trouble free) - a 2014 X3 35i M Sport in BSM over Chestnut leather. Production date is scheduled for 4/6. I just wish I could have gotten this before this terrible winter we've had here! As is, I should receive it around the end of April - just in time for warm weather. Oh, well. She'll be great to drive in warm weather, too! :thumbup:

Anyway, I literally ordered every option except the Driver Assistance Plus package (I typically order most every option - I like the gadgets). For those interested in pricing, I got it for $1K over invoice. I know I could have gotten a better price had I been willing to travel further then 15 minutes from my house, but this dealership has always been good to me and I don't mind paying a little more for good service, guaranteed loaners, and good people. Plus, after my $750 loyalty credit and $500 for the Turn-Key Lease First Payment Credit Program, I really paid $250 under invoice. Plus, I am taking delivery with only ~$340 out of pocket. Oh, and I still have $500 coming to me from the BMW CCA for purchasing a new BMW. All in all, I think I did pretty well.

I will update this post throughout the production and delivery. Thanks for reading!

Update 4/6: I just checked my production number on the BMW website and it looks like my car is out of production now. However, there may be a problem. I wanted the Glossy Black roof rails, but a check of my VIN at BMWVIN.com shows my car having the Satin Aluminum roof rails. I hope that site is just wrong, because Satin Aluminum roof rails would be a deal-breaker: I would refuse delivery and reorder. I have just emailed my CA and let him know this, so he is checking on it now. At least the order-production-delivery process goes fast, if I have to order again!

pharding

04-06-2013 12:35 PM

Satin roof rails are banal on a black X3. I know because I have them on our 2014 X3 and I hate them. They pop out way too much. I am going to promtly get them repainted black.

BMWDude49120

04-06-2013 12:59 PM

Exactly, Pharding! I just don't think the Satin Aluminum will look good on my BSM vehicle. Plus, I have already ordered the black kidney grills, which I believe will make the Satin rails look even more out of place. I'm still waiting to hear back from my CA, but I made it clear to him I would not take delivery of the car with the wrong roof rails. It may seem minor to some people, but it isn't to me.

guyver626

04-06-2013 06:22 PM

Exact same thing happened to me. They had to reorder mine. Took an extra week for delivery.

Capobranco

04-06-2013 08:02 PM

Congrats!

Your X3 will be an impressive vehicle. My car has similar equipment and I have found it to be exceptionally fun and versatile.

Obviously, coming from a 335i 6MT (a truly great performer that I once owned) you appreciate performance and your X3 35i M Sport will not disappoint. You ordered the three critical options that are truly transformational – 35i, M Sport and DHP. These options have the effect of turning the X3 into a stellar performer. Remarkably your coming X3 is as fast as a Porsche Cayenne GTS – impressive. I consider my M3 to be one of the finest cars BMW has produced in the last 20 years, and I feel the spiritual connection between my M3 and my X3 35i M Sport – I suspect that the engineers at M were consulted. In short, the X3 35i M Sport is the BMW of SAVs.

Regarding the satin rails – I have them and like them on my Carbon Black M Sport. The satin rails serve to highlight and visually lengthen the X3's artfully rakish roof line. Moreover, they provide a nice counter balance to the polished 19 inched wheels and the large kidney grille with aluminum trim. I have a friend who has a similar setup and his X3 M Sport is also striking. If you are going to replace the aluminum kidney grilles with black – I agree, I would go with black rails.

Good Luck!

BMWDude49120

04-13-2013 12:18 PM

I just got a call from my CA telling me my X3 has finally arrived at the dealership! Heading over there to check it out right now! :D

I didn't ask if it came with the Satin Aluminum or High Gloss Black roof rails, though. Guess I'll find out when I get there. When I talked to my CA about earlier this week, he said if it arrived with the Satin rails, they would swap them out to the High Gloss Black rails for me at no charge. In fact, they have already ordered the rails so they would have them on hand when my vehicle arrived. Problem is, I'm not sure I want them taking the headliner out of my days old car to swap the rails. I fear it would never be quite right after the surgery. Perhaps that is just my OCD?

sfiermon

04-13-2013 01:19 PM

Just get a new car ordered and have the dealer throw in some goodies like rubber mats, etc...

guyver626

04-13-2013 03:23 PM

Do not swap rails out. U may have leaks and other things if not installed properly. Not worth the trouble. Have them order u a new car or if u like them have them give u a few goodies with your new ride. Good luck and congrats

BMWDude49120

04-13-2013 06:03 PM

Well, my car did, in fact, arrive with the hideous looking Satin Aluminum roof rails. They look terrible on the BSM car, IMHO. I am now agonizing over making them reorder my car, or just letting them swap them out. My CA told me they have installed the rails many times on X3's that didn't come with any and further stated there haven't been any problems. Of course he would say that, though.

I am concerned about them having to remove my headliner to do the swap, which could lead to sagging, extra rattles and noises, and other potential issues. I am also worried about leaks, since the rails are bolted on right through the roof. I really like my CA and my dealership, but I am seriously considering making them reorder my X3. Looks like I have a tough decision to make in the next 36 hours, or so.

bsavage

04-13-2013 09:11 PM

If it were me, I would just have them order a new car. If you have them tear our the headliner to replace you will always be worried of something happening. For peace of mind I would just have it built correctly. But that is my opinion. I am a stickler for things not being perfect from the start.

I have the black roof rails and they look fantastic. Definitely worth getting right.

MonaLisa

04-13-2013 09:15 PM

Reorder. Those rails will bug you until the end of days and swapping them out may or may not cause more problems than it fixes.

guyver626

04-13-2013 09:19 PM

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=682269&highlight=

Check out what happened to me. Trust me. Make them reorder it. Do not have them swap it out. If u can live with the rails then keep the car but I was in the exact same situation as you. Also turns out after I picked up the car the dealer was not able to swap my slot with another dealer and they kept the car in their lot and its part of their inventor still.

BMWDude49120

04-14-2013 05:37 PM

Okay, I went back to the dealership today to really take a close look at those Satin Aluminum roof rails without my CA hanging over my shoulder. Yeah, my first impressions were correct: the Satin Aluminum looks very out of place on an otherwise all black vehicle. In fact, I think it looks terrible. Hideous. Cheap. Others may love the look, but I certainly do not.

So, what to do? I am not interested in having them swap them out, I've decided. Too much potential for other problems (leaks, rattles, saggy headliner, whatever). Therefore, I have just sent my CA an email stating they will have to reorder my X3. I can't wait to hear what he says when he reads the email tomorrow. I expect a call about 2 minutes after they open. I verified that the order form I originally emailed him showed High Gloss Black roof rails, not Satin Aluminum. Looks like they will be stuck with an almost fully optioned X3 they will have a very hard time selling. Oh, well... It is their mistake.

BMWDude49120

04-14-2013 10:49 PM

Here are some pics I took today of the X3 I won't be accepting. I showed these to several of my friends and family and all of them agreed that the Satin Aluminum just doesn't look good on the black. I hate shiny, chrome-like stuff on a car anyway, so I knew I would hate the look of these. I just wasn't sure if maybe I was being a bit irrational about the rails. However, my friends and family confirmed I was not. I will just have to wait another 3 to 4 weeks for my car. No big deal.

I do feel a bit bad for my CA, as this was an honest mistake and I have a feeling he may get in a bit of hot water over this. I hope not, but I guess there isn't much I can do about that. I hear his Sales Manager also had to sign off on the order, so my CA isn't entirely at fault.

BTW, did you get the HUD? I'm not sure if that's included in the US in one of the packages you mentioned, but I highly recommend it. The new 2013 one is supposed to be better (full color?).

J

sfiermon

04-15-2013 05:01 AM

Yeah. I see your point. Pic worth 1000 words

BMWDude49120

04-15-2013 02:29 PM

Well, my CA didn't hesitate at all to order a new X3 for me. This time, though, he had me verify the order form before he entered it into the system and committed the order. It looks like I now have a production slot on May 1st, with delivery expected the first or second week of May. I will update again when I receive the production number and VIN.

Elias

04-15-2013 02:48 PM

For the right price someone will take that vehicle off the Dealers hands, I wouldn't worry too much over it.

BMWDude49120

04-17-2013 08:41 PM

I got my new production number already today and it looks my X3 is scheduled to start production next week - a week ahead of schedule! :thumbup:

pmacd55

04-18-2013 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWDude49120
(Post 7526040)

I got my new production number already today and it looks my X3 is scheduled to start production next week - a week ahead of schedule! :thumbup:

I think you did the right thing with that color. If nothing else the car will end up in the loaner fleet.